Images of childhood

Changing attitudes

The Wealthy Man 1500-10Jean Bourdichon

• Flemish painting from the early 16th century. Note the the clothing of the children reflects that of the adults in the painting

17th Century“.

• The Feast of St. Nicholas” by Jan Steen, a 17th century Dutch painter, depicts the morning of St. Nicholas’ feast in a traditional Dutch household

• While the children are important in this painting, they still remain miniature adults. The little girl’s gifts include a bucket, a normal household utensil and one with a strictly utilitarian purpose.

Children in Art – 18th Century

• American folk art painting circa 1800; here the child becomes the focus of the painting but the costume is still a miniature version of adult dress from the period

• However there were toys at least for wealthy children even in this early period

• This doll from 1790 is in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum in London

1850

• This American folk art painting from 1850 shows the gradual development of specific dress for children, and more importantly the rapid development of children’s toys.

• This painting is of a boy.

• Even though this doesn’t look particularly comfortable, compared to what his mother would have been wearing…..

Childhood 1890’s

• The focus of this painting has become the children and their activities. They are actively involved in games specifically designed for children. The style of dress allows much greater freedom of movement and action, and is markedly different from the adult fashion of the day.

• Women in particular were wearing corsets and skirts that restricted their ability to move. This would have limited severely their ability to be involved in strenuous activity. No sport for these ladies

The new century

• Children were among the beneficiaries of the new freedoms and new technology exploding onto the 20th century

• There was a huge growth in companies producing toys for children.

• There was at the same time a surge in the publication of children’s books.

Post War

• By the 1950’s childhood was a seen as a separate and special period in a persons life. It was associated with innocence, freedom and a lack of parental interference.

• It was at this time that teenagers came to be seen as a distinct social group

• It was also the period when television was invented, the first real challenge to children’s fiction as a means of story telling

Today

• Now despite a flourishing publishing industry in children’s books and social and government support for reading to children, there are new challenges for children's fiction.